Frantz
Curzon Film World
Distribution: Selective scheme
England
2017
Total project grant (euros)
45,700
Programme
Creative Europe
Sub-programme
MEDIA
Funding scheme
Distribution: Selective scheme
Call number
19/2016
Call publication date
21 Sep 2016
Application deadline
1 Dec 2016
Result publication date
6 Apr 2017
One of world cinema’s most prolific auteurs, François Ozon (Swimming Pool, In the House) returns with the moving and poetic period drama Frantz, an elegant reimagining of the story behind Ernst Lubitsch’s undersung 1932 drama Broken Lullaby.
In a small German town in 1919, Anna mourns every day at the grave of her fiancé, Frantz, who was killed in battle during World War I. One day she spies a mysterious young Frenchman, Adrien, also laying flowers at the grave. Together they begin to bond over their shared grief, though Anna is intrigued by the enigmatic nature of Adrien’s relationship with her fiancé. As the pair become increasingly close, long buried secrets are revealed that will change the fabric of their lives and take them across a wearied and battle-scarred Europe. Shot with stunning black-and-white photography, Frantz is a masterfully told story of romance, grief and guilt featuring two remarkable lead performances from newcomers Paula Beer and Pierre Niney. At once graceful and and gripping, it is an intimate and timely exploration of healing and forgiveness across European borders.
Creative Europe supported the distribution of this French-German co-production through the Selective and Automatic distribution schemes.
Louisa Dent, Managing Director of Curzon Artificial Eye, said:
"Creative Europe support makes a significant contribution to Curzon's ability to champion European film. It not only helps us take acquisition risks and mount ambitious releases of non-national European films, but also encourages collaboration with European partners such as sales agents and filmmakers."
Look at our 2017 Results report for a comprehensive overview of Creative Europe's support to the distribution of European films in the UK in 2017.





